News › Major new initiative boosts crop genetics and breeding research

Wheat

7 April 2004

Publicly funded research supporting the genetics and breeding of some of the UK’s major crops is being revitalised by a Defra initiative creating a series of Crop Genetic Improvement Networks. Rothamsted Research will play a leading role in the first two of these, the Wheat Genetic Improvement Network (WGIN) and the Oilseed Rape Genetic Improvement Network (OREGIN), which are to be launched later this month.

Funding for the core activities of these two Networks represents an investment by Defra of almost £2.5m. A further Rothamsted-led Network, focused on the genetic improvement of willows and poplars for renewable energy production, is also in the pipeline.

Professor Ian Crute, Director of RRes said: "I applaud Defra’s initiative. These networks will enable the close integration of the UK's crop genetic science base. Our aim will be to ensure rapid practical uptake of the research by industry." Dr Peter Werner of plant breeders CPB Twyford Ltd described it as "a new opportunity for improving communication and collaborations between researchers and the commercial breeding sector".

Each network will comprise a core project on genetic improvement of a given crop into which satellite projects funded by BBSRC and Defra will feed. In addition, LINK projects will ensure a strong connection between the research base and industry and provide the basis of delivery into farm practice.

One key objective of the research is to enhance crop productivity whilst reducing reliance on agrochemical inputs. The Networks will assemble and conserve valuable collections of crop genetic diversity with the help of a range of molecular genetic techniques. They will also develop methods for the efficient and reliable identification of genes controlling useful traits such as disease resistance and crop quality as well as providing the tools for the incorporation of new genes into commercial breeding programmes.

Seed, genetic data and information generated by the Networks will be made freely accessible to the research community and the breeding industry. The outcome sought is a more vibrant breeding sector drawing on the UK science base to deliver better crops for UK farmers.

Contacts

› Kim Hammond-Kosack
› Kirsty Gelsthorpe (Defra) tel: 0207 238 5610 kirsty.kelsthorpe@defra.gsi.gov.uk fax: 01582 760981

Rothamsted Research Press Office

For further information, please contact Darren Hughes, Head of Communications, on +44 (0) 1582 763 133 ext 2673, email darren.hughes@rothamsted.ac.uk

Rothamsted is the longest running agricultural research station in the world, providing cutting-edge science and innovation for nearly 170 years. Our mission is to deliver the knowledge and new practices to increase crop productivity and quality and to develop environmentally sustainable solutions for food and energy production. Our strength lies in our integrated, multidisciplinary approach to research in plant and soil science.

Rothamsted Research receives strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) . It is the longest running agricultural research station in the world, developing environmentally sustainable solutions for food and energy production through science and innovation for nearly 170 years.

About BBSRC

BBSRC is the UK funding agency for research in the life sciences and the largest single public funder of agriculture and food-related research.

Sponsored by Government, BBSRC's budget for 2011-12 is around £445M which it is investing in a wide range of research that makes a significant contribution to the quality of life in the UK and beyond and supports a number of important industrial stakeholders, including the agriculture, food, chemical, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.

BBSRC provides institute strategic research grants to the following:

The Babraham Institute, Institute for Animal Health, Institute for Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (Aberystwyth University), Institute of Food Research, John Innes Centre, The Genome Analysis Centre, The Roslin Institute (University of Edinburgh) and Rothamsted Research.

The Institutes conduct long-term, mission-oriented research using specialist facilities. They have strong interactions with industry, Government departments and other end-users of their research.

For more information see: www.bbsrc.ac.uk